Senior IOC Member Oswald Makes EB Bid

(ATR) Swiss IOC member Denis Oswald tells Around the Rings his experience across 26 years on the sports body should be considered in a return to the IOC Executive Board. He is one of five candidates running for two open slots in the September vote.

Oswald, 70, has been an IOC member since 1991, but his ties to the Olympics go back to his youth as a rower.

"Since I joined the Olympic Movement, I have been lucky enough to always play a very active role. Indeed, after having participated in three Olympic Games as a rower (one bronze medal and two diplomas), I became secretary general and then president of [rowing federation] FISA, president of ASOIF and member of several IOC Commissions, notably the Executive Board, and the Juridical Commission," says Oswald.

Oswald served for 12 years as a member of the Executive Board starting in 2000. In 2001, he took over as chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Athens 2004 when Jacques Rogge became IOC President. He reprised the role for London 2012. In 2013 he was one of the candidates running for IOC President.

Oswald is in the final stages of his chairmanship of the Disciplinary Commission studying the findings of the McLaren Report into allegations of systemic doping in Russia.

"All these responsibilities, have given me an exceptional experience and knowledge of the current challenges of sport. It is why I believe that I would be a very useful member of the EB. And I would be honored to serve our Movement in that capacity," Oswald tells Around the Rings.

Other candidates in the election for the Executive Board include Nicole Hoevertsz of Aruba , Pal Schmitt of Hungary,Habu Gumel from Nigeriaand Ivan Dibos from Peru.

The elections take place on the final day of the IOC Session in Lima on Sept. 16.

Written by Ed Hula.

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